Lights Out In N.O.

Two venues within the SMG-managed New Orleans Cultural Center still don’t have electricity thanks to Hurricane Katrina, GM Kathleen Turner said.

The 2,317-capacity Mahalia Jackson Theatre of Performing Arts and Morris F.X. Jeff Municipal Auditorium – which seats up to 7,000 – have both sustained water damage to their basements.

“Right now we’re working with the city to see what options we have to restore power to the building,” Turner told Pollstar. She said most of the auditorium’s systems are located in the basement, and it could be out of commission for a year.

The water damage in the theatre wasn’t as bad as the auditorium but still affected the venue’s power. The general manager added that at least two other theatres in the Crescent City are “down for the count.”